Coin-controlled lock



F. MICDANIEL Aug. -19, 192%,

COIN CONTROLLED LOG K Filed Feb. 19, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l amvenfoz fM094 N/[L I witness 20 F. M DANIEL com CONTROLLED LOCK 2 Sheets-She s}.

Filed Feb, 19, 1923' Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

UNITED STATES FRANK MQDANIEL, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

COIN-CONTROLLED LOCK.

Application filed February 19, 1923. Serial No. 619,960.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK MoDnNrnL, a citizen of the UnitedStates,-residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michian, have invented certain newand useful finprovements in Coin-ControlledLocks; and I do declare the following'to be a full,.clear, and exactdescription of the invention,csuch as will enable others skilled in theart to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in coin-controlled locks of thetype used for instance upon lockers one object being to provided novelmeans for holding the bolt of the lock against operation in case anactuator which is associated with said bolt, is. moved Without insertinga coin to establish a connection between the actuator and bolt to permitoperation of the latter, 1

' A further object is to provide a novel form of bolt and actuator ofsuch construction as to permit the edgewise insertion of atom to form.an operating connection between them- I lVith'v the foregoing in view,the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter describedand claimed, the de scription being supplemented by the accompanying.drawings.

Figure 1 is an inner side elevation of .a lock constructed in accordancewith my invention, showing the normally unlocked condition thereof. 1

Figure 2 is a duplicate of a portion of Fig 1 with the exception that itillustrates the locking bolt projected.

Figure 3' is a view similar to Fig. lflbut illustrating the relation ofparts when an attempt is made to project the bolt without inserting acoin.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view as indicated by line 4.-4 ofFig. 1. Figure 5 is a vertical section on line. 5-5 of Fig. 4:.

F'gure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the bolt and the tumbler whichnormally prevents projection of said bolt.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the bolt actuator. c

In the drawings above briefly described, I have shown a verticallypositioned channel-shapedplate 1 which may either be a flange 20f theplate 1 has" been shown as f r ed with an pe ng 3 ug Which the bolt 4which is horizontally guided in any suitable manner may be projected.In. the preferred form of construction, this bolt is of the formationshown most clearly in Fig. 7. In this view, the bolt is shown ofchannel-shape, being provided with a bottom 5, a comparatively long sidewall 6 adjacent the plate 1, and a relatively short side wall 7. A lug 8extends laterally from the sidewall 7 and alsogextends downward 1y fromthe bottom 5, the two side walls and said bottom beingslotted asindicated at 9 to receive a coin 10. This slot opens through the lowerside of the lug 8 and while it opens through the upper edges of the, twoside walls 6 and 7 and through the wall .6, it does not open throughouter. side of the laterally extending part tance into said lug.

.Slidably received in the channel of the bolt 4 is a horizontallyelongated bolt, actuator ll having a slot, 12 which normallyregisterswith theslot 9 to receive the coin 10, when the latter isinserted edgewise through a slot 13in the plate 1. i For-operating theactuator 11, I have shown a commonform of cylinder lock 14 having aprojecting finger 15 received in a recess 16 in theupper edge of saidactuator. a The construction. (well known) is such that when the key isinserted into the lock 14 and turned to cause I'Qt-laClLlO'fl of thebolt 4 and its actuator 11, the key is locked in place and cannot beremoved. When a coin 10 is inserted however in the registering'slots 9and 12 and the lock 14 a is actuated by means of the key to project thebolt, thenthe key canbe removed, leaving the door locked in closedposition. When it is desired to again unlock the door, the key'isinserted into the lock and the latter is turned to move the actuator 11in the proper direction for withdrawing the bolts. iWhile any suitableconnection may be employed between the actuator and bolt for thispurpose, I have shown said actuator provided with a depending stud 17reof the lug 8, althoughit extends some disceived slidably in a slot 18in the bottom 5 of the bolt 4. While this connection operates to retractthe bolt, the stud will merely slide within the slot if an attempt ismade to project said bolt Without first inserting a coin to establish anoperating connection between the actuator and bolt.

In the preferred form of construction, the bolt 4 rests slidably upon asuitable plate 19 secured by screws or the like 20 to the plate 1, thisplate being here shown as provided with an annular flangewhosehorizontal portion 21 constitutes a ledge normally underlying theregistering slots in the bolt and actuator Thus, when a coin is insertedin said slots as shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, this coin will be supportedby the ledge 21. When the lock 1A is operated to bodily project theactuator 11 of the bolt 4 hswever, the coin is moved from the ledge anddrops into a suitable receptacle (not shown) as will be clear byreference to Fig. 2.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the actuator 11 may be idlymoved within the channel of the bolt 4 when no coin is inserted into thedevice, but to positively prevent'projection of the bolt A by such idlemovement, I provide normally idle boltholding means which is moved to anoperative position by projection of the actuator within the bolt, to apredetermined extent. In the present showing, this means is in the formof an annular gravity-released tumbler 25 loosely pivoted at 26 to theside wall 6 of the bolt, beyond the lug 8, so that the depending arm 27of this tumbler, is in the outward path of the actuator 11. Thehorizontal arm of the tumbler 25 is so disposed that when said tumbleris tilted by outward-' movement of the actuator, said arm will engagethe flange 2 as shown in Fig. 3, thus holding the bolt againstprojection, unless a coin is inserted. Upon the insertion of this coinhowever, relative movement of the bolt and actuator is prevented andthey are caused to move bodily as a unit and consequently the tumbler 25will not come into lay.

Preferably used in connection with the features above described, is asuitable counter 30 which registers the number of times the bolt isprojected. I also prefer to provide this bolt with a depending V-shapedlug 31 engageable with a spring arm 32 when the bolt is projected,preventing accidental release of the latter.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,it will be seen that I have provided a simple and inexpensive, yeta'highly elficient and reliable lock which may only be operated by theinsertion of a coin. Particular attention is directed to the fact thatthe construction is such as to permit edgewise insertion of the coin asexperience has proven that the coin is much easier to insert in thismanner than when it must be moved bodily into a circular opening.Attention is also directed particularly to the novel means employed toprevent accidental projection of the bolt by idle movement of theactuator.

As excellent results have been obtained from the details disclosed, theymay be fol lowed if desired. However, within the scope of the inventionas claimed, numerous minor changes may be made.

I claim:

l.'A coin-controlled lock comprising a bolt, an actuator for said boltmovable with respect thereto, said bolt and actuator having spacedshoulders between which a coin may be inserted to operatively connectsaid bolt and actuator, and normally idle means brought into play bymovement of the actuator with respect to the bolt for holding the latteragainst projection.

2. A coin-controlled lock comprising. a bolt, an actuator for said boltmovable with respectthereto, said bolt and actuator having spacedshoulders between which a coin may be inserted to operatively connectsaid bolt and actuator, and a normally idle boltholding tumbler carriedby said bolt and having a portion in the path of said actuator formovingsaid tumbler to operative position upon'movement of said actuator withrespect to said bolt.

3. A coin-controlled lock comprising a bolt, an actuator for said boltmovable with respect thereto, said bolt and actuator having spacedshoulders between which'a coin maybe inserted to operatively connectsaid bolt and actuator, and a gravity-released normally idle tumblerpivoted to said bolt and having a portion in the path of said actuator,whereby idle movement of said actuator with respect to the bolt willmove said tumbler to an operative position at which it prevents movementof said bolt.-

l. A coin-controlled lock comprising a channel-shaped horizontal boltand guiding means therefor, a lug extending laterally from one side anddownwardly from the bottom of said bolt, the side walls of said bolt andits bottom having a coin-receiving slot which opens through thelowerside of said lug and extends into the laterally extending part of saidlug, a bolt actuator slidable freely in said channel-shaped bolt andhaving a slot which opens through its vertical sides and its lower edge,the slotsv of the bolt and actuator being normally in register toreceive a coin, and a fixed ledge under said lug upon which the coinrests when inserted, movement of the actuator and bolt upon theinsertion of a coin serving to move the latter from saidledge.

5. A coin controlled lock comprising a channel-shaped horizontal boltand guiding means therefor, a lug extending laterally from one side anddownwardly from the bottom of said bolt, the side walls of said bolt andbottom having a coin receiving slot 5 which opens through the lower sideof said lug and extends into the laterally extending part of said lug,means for supporting a coin inserted into said slot until the bolt isprojected and a bolt actuator slidable in said channel-shaped bolt andadapted to en- 10 gage a coin in said slot to project said bolt.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

FRANK McDANIE L.

